Michigan Democracy Campaign

Campaign Description

To win on the issues that matter most—a just economy, a healthy planet, safe communities, and a fair justice system—we need ensure that everyone can fully participate in our democracy. Participation and influence in democracy is vital to addressing important issues impacting our communities and the nation.

Michigan was once a leader when it came to voting. The state was a model for voter registration across the country and what we all know now as the “Motor Voter” law. After leading for many years in the 1970s, Michigan has fallen behind with some of the most restrictive processes for voting, and politicians have drawn maps to choose the voters and control government. It’s time to change that. Michiganders have the opportunity this fall to both improve voting rights and achieve fair redistricting for all regardless of race, gender, class, or where they live.

Michiganders have the opportunity this fall to both improve voting rights and achieve fair redistricting for all regardless of race, gender, class, or where they live. The Democracy Initiative is proud to endorse two important ballot initiatives: Promote the Vote and Voters Not Politicians. Michigan is one of our priority states under the Democracy 365 umbrella to achieve increased access, representation, and participation in democracy across the United States. With these two reforms, we will no longer leave millions of people on the sidelines of democracy.

Promote The Vote

Promote the Vote is a grassroots initiative to win voting reforms to expand access to voting. Michigan lags many states when it comes to voting access. Absentee ballots are only available to seniors over 60 years old and the deadline to register to vote is two months before the election – the most restrictive in the country behind Alabama.

Voters Not Politicians

Voters Not Politicians is a grassroots organization fighting well-funded political players and special interests that are bent on preserving the current rigged system. When politicians draw the lines, they create job security for themselves, which reduces their incentive to answer to voters and frees them to work for special interests. This diminishes our voice as voters in Michigan’s democracy.

Action and Messaging for Michigan Campaigns

Kitchen Table Issues & Democracy

Water is a major issue in Michigan. As residents in Flint continue to deal with the physical and financial costs of lead exposure, we also see families in lower income parts of Detroit facing water shutoffs despite earlier assurances that the city would not do this. When politicians set policies that negatively impact students, families, seniors and more, we need to demand a democracy that works for all where we can hold leaders accountable for their actions.